Four men charged with participating in immigration fraud scheme

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2012

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that criminal charges were filed against four individuals in connection with immigration matters. It is alleged that each of the individuals participated in a scheme to provide materially false representations to immigration authorities in order to secure the continued presence of illegal aliens in the United States.

None of the individuals are residents of north eastern Pennsylvania. According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the scheme involved using illegal aliens to work at service stations in Luzerne County while falsely representing that they were employed in doing computer technology-related work that would allow them to remain in the United States legally.

Ramana Bandreddi, age 42, Herdon, Virginia, is charged via felony criminal information with a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 1015(a) and (2), aiding and abetting the giving of false statements in naturalization, citizenship, or registry of aliens.

Krishna Koteru, age 43, of Parlin, New Jersey, is charged with a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 1015(a) and (2), aiding and abetting the giving of false statements in naturalization, citizenship, or registry of aliens.

Ravi Kumar Nakirikanti, age 39, Malvern, Pennsylvania, is charged with a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 371, conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

Venkat Varkala Reddy, age 42, Edison, New Jersey, is charged with a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 371, conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

If convicted, each individual could be imprisoned for a total statutory maximum up to five years and a fine in the amount of $250,000.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with assistance provided by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Fraud Detection and National Security. This case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Todd K. Hinkley.

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An indictment or information is not evidence of guilt but simply a
description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and the United
States Attorney against a defendant. A charged defendant is presumed
innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United
States has proved the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.